Strainer



Feb. 3, 1953 ocK 2,627,349

I STRAINER Filed Nov. 7, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l flIEN TOR,

ALVIN HccK V Y Ahp'rney A. HOCK STRAINER Feb. 3, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.. 7, 1946 INVENTOR. AL Vm Hocpy Afforney,

A. HOCK Feb. 3, 1953 STRAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. ,7, 1946 INVENTOR.

191w Hock v QW HTTOkzvzy Q "Q QT.

Feb. 3, 1953 A. HOCK 2,627,349

STRAINER Filed Nov. 7, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1m ml: l ml 'll llmllhlllllllllmfl 1N VEN TOR.

BY 191w Hack HTromvEy Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in separators for straining or separating liquids, syrups or the like from solid particles, such for example as straining wort from the hops and cereals used in making beer after the same has been boiled or brewed.

The strainer of the present invention is an improvement on that disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 488,068, now Patent No. 2,412,400.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a strainer or separator for straining and separating liquids from solid particles.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a strainer for straining or separating a liquid from solid particles in progressive stages, such as, first by permitting the run off of the main liquid and then processing the solid particles to permit the recovery of all the liquid that may be still clinging to the said solid particles.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a strainer for straining or separating liquid from solid particles in progressive stages such as by first permitting the run off of the main liquid, by gravity, from the solid particles which are substantially suspended in the liquid and moving therewith, then mechanically tumbling the said solid particles to expose any hidden surfaces, pockets or crevices therein and permit the gravity flow of the liquid from said solid particles and subsequently judiciously sparging or washing the said solid particles and thereby obtain the maximum of the liquid, syrup, wort or the like.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision in a strainer of the character above identified of improved tumbling meansfor the solid particles whereby the said solid particles are adequately tumbled to obtain the maxsult from said squeezing, or bruising, such for example, as the squeezing or bruising of hop flowers in the manufacture of syrup or wort from which beer is subsequently made.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a strainer of the kind above set forth in which means are provided, so that access may be readily had to the interior thereof for cleaning purposes to prevent the adherence of residue to the interior of the strainer, which may affect the quality of batches subsequently passed through the strainer.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide in a strainer of the kind set forth in the paragraph immediately above, means for mounting the parts thereof so that they may be arranged to expose all surfaces for the purpose of cleaning and sterilizing the same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the above invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a strainer embodying the improvements of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the strainer illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the strainer illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and seen particularly from the right hand end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the strainer of the present invention taken on line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the strainer of the present invention taken on line 55 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of a strainer plate used with the strainer of the present invention and forming a detail thereof.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view through the strainer plate of Fig. 6 as seen from line 1-1 on said Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the strainer plate taken at right angles to the plane of the section of Fig. 7 as seen from line 8-8 in said Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the strainer plate adjusting mechanism taken on line 9-9 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the strainer plate adjusting mechanism taken on line Ill-l0 on said Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the tumbling mechanism of the present invention and as seen, for example, from line H-H on Fig. 4.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through one of the rakes and its mounting as seen, for example from line I2-|2 on Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view through the driving mechanism or the tumbling device or rakes taken on line |3l 3 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View through the adjusting means for the discharge chute forming a detail of the invention and as seen from line 14-14 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the discharge end of the machine and particularly illustrates the sparging mechanism which forms a detail of the invention and seen particularly from line l5| 5 on Fig. 4

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional View taken at right angles to that of Fig. on line 56-46 on said Fig; 15.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar reference characters are employed to de-- past wereineflicient and" unable to handle-the quantity desired atthe-rate desired. Further more strainers as heretofore employed operated at a continuousratewherefore there were'times' when insuihcient time was allowedfor the complete drainage of the-liquid, syrupor'wort fromthe solid particlespriorto'the discharge'of said particles onto the'refuse pile; or thetime consumed'in" permitting this drainage was toogreat there'byslowing downthe amount of material that could be passed through'the strainer in' an allotted time for straining.

By the present invention, and as will'later be made clear, each" of the foregoing disadvantages of prior" strainers has" been overcome in" the strainer of the present invention". It should be further noted" that the" construction of the present'strainer'has not been unduly complicated to effect these advantagesbutinstead th'e'construction has been heldtoas simple as possible thereby producing an'efficient yet economical strainer.

Specifically, the strainer of the present invention comprises a' housing'including a front 20,.

a back 2i; ends 22*an'd 23 and a top'which' includes portions 24 and 25. The housing has an open bottom which discharges into a' receiving tank 26, illustrated: most clearly in Fig: 4". The tank 25 takesany suitable or'desirab'le form'and is mounted on a solid support or as illustrated in Fig; lon appropriatebut adjustable support, such as jack-screws 21; the'tank'26 thereby supplies the bottom for the strainer housing and receives thei'liquid, syrup, wort: or thelike' resulting from the" strainer'me'chani'sm. The tank 26 is provided with an outlet 28 usuallyconn'ected with a valve controlled pipe 29 which'dire'ctsthecontents 26 tothe next stageiin the'processin'g'of the material.

The strainer of the presentinvention will find one of its uses, as intimated'above, in the brewingindustry andhereinafter where reference is made to the material being strained, it will be referred to as wort and the solid particles will be designated as hop flowers while the liquid" drained or strained from the hop flowers will be designated as syrup. It is to be'understood, however, that the-strainer of the present invention is not limited to-thestraining of wort but may be employed wherever a strainer is"necessary or desirable.

The wort to be strained is delivered to thestrainer from the brewing kettlesthrough a pipe 4 33 discharging onto the upper end of a strainer plate 34.

The strainer plate 34 is in efiect the base or bottom of a trough which has upstanding sides 35 and 36, see Fig. 5. In order to connect the trough bottom 34 and sides 35 and 36 to one another use is made of angle-irons 3'! and 38 each of which has one of its legs connected with one of the trough sides 35 and 36 and has its other leg underlyin the strainer plate or trough bottom 34. As illustrated in the drawings, particularly. Fig. 4, the strainer plate 34 is illustrated as of a continuous length but may be, and in practice is, a series of short sections supported on the angle-irons 31 and'38 and abutted one section against thenext.

The strainer plate 34 may be of any accepted or'desirable construction, usually of the constructionillustrated-in Figs. 6, '7, and 8. This construction comprises the formation, axially or longitudinally of the plate of a series of elongated apertures 390i considerably greater length than width; Each aperture 39 on the'under side of the plate ismaterially flared, outwardly, as illustrated at 40 in Figs. '7 and 8.

suitable or desirable means may be employed-for efiectin this hinge connection, such as illustrated in the drawing as comprising the formation or attachment to the plate 34 of eyes 42'throug-h which extends'the bard'i Upstandingfrom thishinged end of" the strainer plate 34 is an end plate'w havingits upper edge reinforced as'at to act as'a rest'or support for the inner end of distributor head 0r nozzle 32.

The outer or discharge end of the strainer plate 34 and its sides 35 and 39 stop short of said screws 41' and 48" act as hangers for the" inner'end of the strainer plate 34 and for vertically adjusting this end of the strainer trough as will later be made clear.

Beneath the strainer plate 34- is a shelf or deflector plate 49 which has its one longitudinal edgehingedly'connected at' 59 to'the back wall 2| of the strainer housing; The deflector plate 49 inclines from the back wall 2| of the housing toward thefront wall 29 thereof transversely of the strainer housing. Just beyond the strainer trough, or the strainer plate-34 the deflector plate 49 stops and is supported by a supplemental wall" 5i inwardl'yof the front wall 251. By this construction thereis provided" a passageway 52' between thefrontwall Ziland intermediate wall 5| and this passageway 52' islocated immediately" below the housing inclined top-portion 25.

The operation of the mechanism thus far" described is: as follows:

The worttobe strained p-assesby: gravity from the couplingtfl through the. distributor or nozzle:

32,. which, as. seenin Fig.5, is1of a width substantially-equal to the'width of the strainer plate:

34.. Thewort flows. by gravityfrom the, entrance: endto. the diScharge-endiofthe strainer plate 34.

During this flow the syrup passes through; the;

apertures; 39 in theplate. tobe receiveddoy the inclined. deflector plate 49: and directed t the passageway 52' for discharge: into" the tank- 26 The wort flowing along the strainer plate 34 and in passing therethrough is discharged from the discharge end thereof.

It has been found in some instances, that the wort from the brew kettle, and passing through the coupling 39, has such force that it moves with such speed that an insufficient amount of syrup drains through the strainer plate 34. By mounting the plate 34 on the hinge pin 4! it may be elevated to thereby cause the dissipation of some of the force and speed of the material traveling therealong, thereby permitting a greater amount of syrup to flow through the aperture 34.

It has also been found that the material may be flowing with such a small amount of force and little speed that it has difficulty reaching the discharge end of the strainer plate 39 and tends to pile up thereon between its sides and 33 wherefore by inclining the plate 34 downwardly this material is caused to more rapidly reach the said discharge end of the strainer plate.

As was above stated the discharge end of the strainer plate is supported by screws 4'! and 48 which are utilized to effect either an upward inclination or a downward inclination of the strainer plate 34, This adjustment is effected by axially shifting the said screws 47 and 48, for which purpose they are each threaded into a sleeve nut 53 and 54, respectively, pressed into a worm wheel or gear 55 and 55. The worm wheels 55 and 53, respectively, mesh with worms 5'! and 58 keyed or formed integral with a shaft 59, which is located above the strainer housing to portion 24 and extends transversely thereof.

Each of the worm wheels 55 and 5t and their meshing worms 5'! and 58 are housed in a suitable housing 69 and BI bolted or otherwise secured to the housing top portion 24. Said housings 60 and 6| provide bearings for the shaft 59, preferably, having journaled therein the bearing ends 62 and 63 one each of the worms 5'! and 58. The worm shaft 59 projects beyond the housing top portion 24 and has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a hand wheel 64 whereby the shaft 59 and its worms are actuated. Each of the housings 6i! and BI, in addition, encloses a thrust bearing 85 which is abutted by the lower end of the sleeve nut 53' and 54.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that by rotating the worm shaft 59 through the hand wheel 54 and screws 41 and 48 are raised or lowered to correspondingly actuate the strainer trough and strainer plate 39 about its hinge mounting 4|.

The Wort being strained passes off of the strainer plate 34, onto a deflector plate 66 which has its one end connected to the end wall 23 of the housing and inclines inwardly and downwardly for correspondingly directing the wort from the said strainer plate 34. The wort upon leaving the deflector plate 55 is caught upon a second strainer plate 81.

The second strainer plate 6! is fixed to have an upward inclination longitudinally of the strainer housing. The said strainer plate 51 may take any suitable or desirable construction, such for example, as the material of which the strainer plate 34 was formed, as above described and illustrated in Figs. 6, '7, and 8. The strainer plate 57 is mounted in position by angle-irons 68 and 99, each of which has its one leg 19 and Ti secured respectively, to the inner face of the back wall 29 and intermediate wall 5|. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the angle-iron 69 has its leg H secured to one off set, inward, portion 12 of the said back, wall 2|. By this construction the strainer plate 61 forms with said intermediate wall 5| and back wall off set portion 12 a trough having a width substantially equal to the strainer trough above described and. including the strainer plate 34 and sides 35 and 36. The strainer plate 9i is illustrated, as of a length substantially equal to the length of the strainer housing, but, similar to the strainer plate 34, may be formed of separate plates each of a relatively short length with their opposed edges in abutment.

It is on the strainer plate 57 that the hop flowers are tumbled to permit the drainage of syrup from pockets and other surfaces thereof which would not normally be subject to gravity drainage. In order to accomplish this tumbling, use is made of a plurality of pusher members of a substantially rakelike formation. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12 each of the pusher members 13 is provided in its free end with a plurality of slots 14 providing between adjacent slots a rakelike tooth 15. The ends of said rake teeth 15 are backwardly curved at 76, the purpose will be subsequently described.

In order to actuate the said rakes use is made of a pair of endless link-chains i1 and 19 located respectively adjacent the intermediate wall 5! and the back wall off set, 12. The chain 11 has its upper and lower reaches held in proper position by angle-brackets l9 and 89 each of which has a leg projecting inwardly to act as a shelf for the said chain reaches. Similarly, the chain 13 has its upper and lower reaches respectively supported by an inwardly projecting leg of anglebrackets 81 and 82 carried by the intermediate wall 55. At one end of the housing, preferably within a supplemental housing 83, the chains 17 and 18 pass over sprockets 84 and 85 which are keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 86. The shaft 86, see Fig. 2, is rotatably journaled in bearings 87 and 88 located exteriorly of the supplemental housing 83. The other ends of sprocket or link chains 1! and E8 are entrained about sprockets carried by a shaft 89. Shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in bearings 99 and SI located respectively exteriorly of the front and back of the strainer housing.

The shaft 85 is the driving shaft and projects beyond the bearing 88 to have keyed or otherwise secured thereto a pulley 92 to receive a driving belt which extends from a suitable source of motive power, not shown. The shaft 39 is the idler shaft and in order to establish the necessary or desirable driving tension in the sprocket chains, its bearings 99 and SI are each :made in the form of a slide 93 capable of being adjusted to the right or left by adjustingscrews 95 and 94.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the wort from the stainer plate 34 is deflected or directed by the deflector plate 65 onto the strainer plate 5'? to have the hop flowers pushed orrolled up said strainer plate by suitable pusher members or rakes l3. It has been found that by presenting the rounded portion of the rake teeth 15 to the sodden hop flowers, the said flowers are rolled or tumbled along the strainer plate 91 thereby spilling any wort that may be in pockets 0r crevices therein. If the sharp ends of the said rake teeth 15 are employed the flowers are not tumbled but merely pushed along thereby not obtaining the results desired. Furthermore the pushing of the flowers en masse results in the breaking or tearing of said flowers with. the result that the sap or juice therein is mixed with the syrup resulting in an undesirable taste in zgaa'naaa saidsynim Thistumblingrofrtheaihopvflowers up: the-astrainer; plate fi'lis'continuous until} the: dis? charge chute 96; isreached.

Any suitable or: desirable: means; may; be; em-' employed for attaching therakes-H; towthe chainsc H; and I8; that shown inthe drawings; consist? ingjnlbending: the :straight edge. of. each rake;to.: be-normal theretoandiforminga flange. 9:1. The. ends;of.the-.fiange 91 are rivetedor otherwisezseecured to. a projecting leg of .anglev-bracketszwwand; 99 which are carried by; opposed-links; in: the; sprocket.v chains 1:! and. 18.-

When the material: reaches. the discharge chute fit it.may'be desirable to; temporarily slow up itsdischarge -to-permit a-final drainage theree fromfiand at the same timeit may be desirable tolefiectza sparging of thesespent hop flowers. For these l'BdSOIlS-thrbOttOHl' lilfi of the discharge chute 535 is: adapted: tobe adjusted; to an upperoutward angle- Thebottom I08,- therefore has its-innerend hingedat. l8 l to theadjacentend of the strainer plate Bl? In order tomaintainzthe. outer end'of the'dischargerchute'bottom? iii} in. position, the said bottom has securedto. itsundersurface at diametrically; opposite points angle brackets I92. each havingpivoted to: one of its legs a linklfltprovided withaplurality of apertures I94: spaced lengthwise of: said link; The apertures] 84: are adaptedtobe selectively mount-- ed on. a :bolt. not carried by the front and back sides; of the supplemental housing 8:3.

Disposed within saidsupplemental housing 83' is the.spargerywhichconveniently takes theform ofa-pipelilfihaving its one end closed by a cap llltandiitsaotheriend connected toathe sparging: fluid supply pipe :88. The pipe sparger i fiiis provided: longitudinally thereof with a. plurality f.-'holes.or; apertures discharging a spray. l Elia into the discharge a chute. Suitable. brackets M 3 andl HI, are: provided by holding. the. sparging. pipe I96? in; position. These bracketsmay take any. suitable; or desirable construction;v such for: eX- ample;- as. illustratedin Fig."v 16' and including. a mounting flange I 12 from which dependsa tie. rod;.l1l.-3. carrying at its;end.separable.pipe clamp H4.

The operation of the strainer: has: been described"; throughout the: specifications in connection-:with the mechanical construction ofzits elementsiand parts;

As:was: noted; above it: is of; prime importance that theizstrainerbe. keptin a thoroughly clean condition; atta'll times and in .order to effect this suitablezentranceidoorsare provided. As" seen in Figs: 1.: and? 2 .the housing; portion 24 1 has hinged: theretm. at: H 5'; andz H 6,, doors Ii 1!: and: H 8.2 each provided with;a:hand1e* a and (29. Each of said: doors. ill; and. H8 hashinged thereto at IZIv and; l-22;s.upplementa'l or'sectional doors [23' and: I214 each, again, provided: with a. handle 25 and; ma Itwill readily. be seen thatv the doors H1... H8, I23- and I24: may beopened soxthat. acoess'cairbe had to the strainer troughstrainer." plateifliand its sides 35and' 36-; The 'housing top portion. 25; is likewise provided with: door: sec.- ticnsz l-Zli and- 123.. each of which isrespectively hingedat-LIZS and I to the said top portion 25 and each' of s-uch door sections l2 1 and i 28 having at. its. other end a hinge I31 and" I32 for connecting therewith door sections" 133' and' I34. Each of the door'sections I27, 28, I33 and 634 is'supplied witha handle i35;' 136; l31 and his.

' of. which it. forms a part,. as: well as; to the pusher or, rake: members 73. The, end .wall ,23.-is; likewiseprovided with a'door l'39-hinged. at I tozthe.said end-wall23. with said door being pro.- vided with. a handle; I41 to permit. andeffect. itspoperation. This doorv I39 enables the.=opera.- tortohave access to that end .of the; machine. in; order.-: to insures cleanliness; in the remote corner: thereof:. The; spargeiwmechanism and discharge. chute 9,6 arecleanable through 3 41001 142 which is: hinged at I43 and operable. through a. handle M4. The door: I42 formsa part of the; top. or. coversofi the supplemental housing 3 83 F'romtheforegoing it.will now be appreciated. thattherehas'been provideda strainerthat ac.- complished the object initially set forth;

What is claimed is: V

1'. In a: device for straining liquid from solid materials the-combination of a. housing consti-- tutingat its lower end-a; tank; astrainer; trough. within: said housing at a point above the tank portion of the housing and, said strainer trough; having aper-forated bottom, means for delivers ing material tdbestrained-tO the strainer trough means directing the? liquid separted. from? the. material by thestrainertrough intothe housing, tank, a second strainer.plate.within-thehousing locatedv intermediate thev strainer trough .and the: portionof thehousing forming the tank, means: for directing the material :to bestrainedfromthe strainer trough to the=secondstrainer plate, said second; strainer plateinclining upwardly; to: its discharge end, a; plurality of pushers carried.by the-housing above andmovable'along the-upper. surface of the secondstrainer-plate engaging and. moving the material along: andupwardly-of-thesecond strainer plate; and means at.the-upper.-. end of the-second. strainer. plate for. retarding; the discharge of: the materialfrom' saidsecond' strainer :plate, comprising a discharge. chute -hav.-- ing,a .bo.ttom-hingedzat its inner. end, and means; for. adjustingsaidbottom about its hinge tov an: upward angle with respect to the-second strainer. plate.

2.. In. a. device. for. straining, liquid from. solid materialsthe; combination of a. housing com-- prising afront a back, endsTandatQp said t0p= extending from. end to, end ofthehousing andhaving a partlaterally; of the ends which} isanormal to the front and back and overlying. a por tion of, the housing and a remaining lateral; part Whichinclines and overlies the remaining. por

tion of the housing; a strainer troughw-ithinsaid housing portionbeneaththe fiatpart of the: top and. said strainer trough including. aperforated bottom, means for delivering material. to, be.- strained. to; therst-rainer trough an inclined liquid deflecting plate beneath the strainer trough: for receiving strained liquidafromx the strainer trough. and deflecting said liquid: toward: the:

housing portion. beneath the; inclined top; part;

thereof, a; second:.-strain-er plate .beneath the: liq.-

quid deflecting, plate for receiving the; material.

strainer plate for positively engaging and moving the material up said second strainer plate.

3. In a device for straining liquid from solid materials the combination of a housing comprising a front, a back, ends and a top, said top extending from end to end of the housing and having a part laterally of the ends which is normal to the front and back and overlying a portion of the housing and a remaining lateral part which inclines and overlies the remaining portion of the housing, a strainer trough within said housing portion beneath the flat part of the top and said strainer trough including a perforated bottom, means for delivering material to be strained to the strainer trough, an inclined liquid deflecting plate beneath the strainer trough for receiving strained liquid from the strainer trough and deflecting said liquid toward the housing portion beneath the inclined top part thereof, a second strainer plate beneath the liqquid deflecting plate for receiving the material from the strainer trough, said second strainer plate inclining upwardly, a discharge chute including a bottom at the end of the second strainer plate, a plurality of pushers movable along the upper surface of the second strainer plate for positively engaging and moving the material up said second strainer plate, and means mounting the discharge chute bottom relative to said discharge chute for adjustment to upwardly incline with respect to the second discharge chute so that the material is retarded in its movement through the discharge chute.

4. In a device for straining liquid from solid materials the combination of a housing comprising a front, a back, ends and a top, said top extending from end to end of the housing and having a part laterally of the ends which is normal to the front and back and overlying a portion of the housing and a remaining lateral part which inclines and overlies the remaining portion of the housing, a strainer trough within said housing portion beneath the flat part of the top and said strainer trough including a perforated bottom, means for delivering material to be strained to the strainer trough, an inclined liquid deflecting plate beneath the strainer trough for receiving strained liquid from the strainer trough and. deflecting said liquid toward the housing portion beneath the inclined top part thereof, a second strainer plate beneath the liquid deflecting plate for receiving the material from the strainer trough, said second strainer plat-e inclining upwardly, a discharge chute at the end of the second strainer plate upwardly inclined with respect to said second strainer plate and acting as a means for retard-ing the discharge of the material from the said second strainer plate, a plurality of pushers movable along the upper surface of the sec-nd strainer plate for positively engaging and moving the material up said second strainer plate, and a sparger above said discharge chute for sparging the material therein prior to its discharge therefrom.

5. In a device for straining liquid from solid materials the combination of a housing comprising a front, a back, ends and a top, said top extending from end to end of the housing and having a part laterally of the ends which is normal to the front and back and overlying a portion of the housing and a remaining lateral part which inclines and overlies the remaining portion of the housing, a strainer trough within said eluding a bottom at theend of the second strainer plate, a plurality of pushers movable along the upper surface of the second strainer plate for positively engaging and moving the material up said second strainer plate, a sparger above said discharge chute for sparging the material therein prior to its discharge therefrom, and means mounting the discharge chute bottom relative to said discharge chute for adjustment to an upwardly and outwardly inclining angle for retarding the movement of the material through the discharge chute to permit the sparging thereof.

6. In a device for straining liquid from solid materials the combination of a housing comprising a front, a back, ends and a top, said top extending from end to end of the housing and having a part laterally of the ends which is normal to the front and back and overlying a portion of the housing and a remaining lateral part which inclines and overlies the remaining portion of the housing, a strainer trough within said housing portion beneath the fiat part of the top and which strainer trough includes a perforated bottom, means for delivering material to be strained to the strainer trough, an inclined liquid deflecting plate beneath the strainer trough for receiving strained liquid from the strainer trough and deflecting said liquid toward the housing portion beneath the inclined top part thereof, a second strainer plate beneath the liquid deflecting plate for receiving the material from the strainer trough, said strainer trough having the receiving end thereof hingedly mounted, and means at the discharge end of the strainer trough for actuating it about its hinge whereby its inclination may be varied to increase or decrease gravity flow therethrough.

7. In a device for straining liquid from solid materials the combination of a housing comprising a front, a back, ends and a top, said top extending from end to end of the housing and having a part laterally of the ends which is normal to the front and back and overlying a portion of the housing and a remaining lateral part which inclines and overlies the remaining portion of the housing, a strainer trough within said housing portion beneath the fiat part of the top and which strainer trough includes a perforated bottom, means for delivering material to be strained to the strainer trough, an inclined liquid deflecting plate beneath the strainer trough for receiving strained liquid from the strainer trough and deflecting said liquid toward the housing portion beneath the inclined top part thereof, -a second strainer plate beneath the liquid deflecting plate for receiving the material from the strainer trough, said second strainer plate inclining upwardly, a discharge chute including a bottom at the end of the second strainer plate, a plurality of pushers movable along the upper surface of the second strainer plate for positively engaging and moving the material up said second strainer plate, said .strainer :tro ugh :havingzthe :receirmg eendithereofthingedly;mounted,;means:at1theJdisichargerend of thezstrainer:trough:for actuating it about its hingewherebyiitsf inclination maybe varied :to .increase ".OI decrease -rg-ravity .ifiow 'sthere'through, a sparger :above said discharge :chute :for sparging 1 the material therein vr-prior to ;its discharge :therefrom, and means for :mountting :the discharge :chutei'bottom irel-ativeito :.said cdisoharge chute for V adjustment to :an upwardly and outwardly finclining :angle "for retarding :movement of .the material through the discharge :chute jto permit the: sparg'ing thereof.

8. Ina device forrstraining ,liquid fromLsolid materials-the combination :of: a:housing:.comprisging-uaifrontp-a :b'ack,:ends and :aitop,'said topi ex- "tending from :end .to 'end of the housing and shaving a partlaterally :of the .ends which iszno-rfinal .to "the :front "and back :and overlying 'a xpor- :tioniof ,the h'ousing'and a remaining "lateral: part :whichiinclines 'and overlies the remaining 'ipor- "ation "of the;ho.using,,a straineritroughwithin said :strained :to the strainer :trough, z-anjiin'olined liq- .uid rdefiectin'g plate beneath the strainertrough for receiving istra'ined liquid from ithe strainer trough ."and deflecting said liquid toward :the

housing :portion beneath the f inclined top part thereof, :a. second :strainer plate beneath the iliq- :uid deflecting :plate for receiving the material TroInthestrainer trough, said second strainer :platezinclining upwardly, aqdischarge chute inicludingia bottom at the. end of the-second strain- 'er1plate, :aplurali'ty'of pushermovable along'the "upper :surface of "the second strainer plate "for positively :engaging :and 'moving the "material up :said second strainer plate, said strainer trough having the receiving end thereof hingedlymount- -e'd, means atthe discharge end of the strainer "trough'for :actuating it about its hinge whereby its .inolinationrmay be .varied to increase or dercreaseigravity fiow' therethrough, a sparger'above :said discharge chute for v*sparging .the material therein prior ito its discharge therefrom, and -means :for mounting the discharge chute bottom relative to :said discharge chute for adjustment to ;an :upwardly ,and :outwardly inclining angle for =retarding:movement of the material through the discharge chute to permit the spargingthere- -o'f,:said strainer trough adjusting means includ- --ing a pair of elevating screws, one connected with each corner. of the trough at the discharge end thereof, asleeve nut on each elevatingscrew, sand means for "simultaneously "actuating *said sleeve: nuts.

9. In "a device "for straining liquid ""from "solid materials the combination of a'housingc-omprisiing afront, a back, ends and a top, said top ex- -tending from end to end'o'f thehousing and having a part laterally of the ends which-is'normal to the front and baokand overlying a pertion' o'f thehousing-and-a remaining lateral part whi-c'h inclines *andoverlies the remaining portion of the housing, a strainer trough within'said housing portion beneath the-flat part of the top and which strainertrough includes aperforated bottom, means for delivering material to be "strained'to the strainer trough, aninclined'liqiarpluralityfof pushersumovable along the upper :"surface .of thesecond-strainer; plate *iforrp'ositively engaging and movin-githematerial up; said second istrainer plate :to the discharge "chute, wsaid material moving. means-including a rake-likepusher :member, sand ;-,powers-actuated flexible means for actuating .the rake+like "pusher .amemher.

10. :In :a device for;straininglliquidsfrom solid .materialsithe .combinatiomhfsahousing compriswing a.1front,-;a:.back, :ends :and a :top, :said atop-"exitendingffromr endtoa end: of the housing andhav- ;ingaacpartilaterally of .theiends which. is :normal .to the front and :back and overlying ,a portion of .the :housing rand .a .;remaining :lateral part which 1' inclines aand :overlies the :remaining "portion of.the:h-ousing,zawstrainerrtrough within said housing ,portion i beneath Lthe fiat portion :of the top: and which strainer trough includes a :perfovrated bottom, .;means :for delivering material 'to ;be strained to :the strainer .trough,:;an inclined liquid deflecting plate beneath :the strainer trough for :receivingstrained liquid :from the strainer trough and deflecting said liquid-toward the housing portion beneath the inclined "top part-thereof, axsecondsstrainer plate beneath the liquid: deflecting plate ior:re.ceiving .thezmaterial from the strainer rtrough, "-said .T-SECOl'ld tstrain'er ,pl-ate inclining upwardly, a :disoharge :chute rat the upper :end of the :-:second ,StltiIIGl' plate and a plurality ;of ;pushers movable :along :the upper 40 surfaceiof thezsecond ,strainerplate for'positivelyengagingandmovingrthe material'rup .said'sec- -rond.-strainer plate to the-discharge "chute-said lmaterial:movingi'meansincludin-grake-like pusher members having teeth with the lower "ends :of -said-teethbent- QPposite-tothedirection of .move- :ment; a link chain=connected tothe opposite ends 0f the rake-like pusher imembers :for actuating them, vandal; power "actuated driving sprocket for -'simultaneously{actuating-:said=rchains.

"ALVIN HOCK.

CITED The "following references are of record in the "file of this patent:

I] N ITED .STATES .EATENTS :Number Name :Date

293,983 Roper Feb. 19, 18.84

80 620,045 Morley -et al., ;Feb. 21, 1899 907,947 .-A splund .Dec. 29, 1908 984,434 ,Laubenheimer "Feb. 14, 1911 1,320,324 Dun-kle .Oct. .28, 1919 1,789,425 Cabrera Jan. -20, 1931 1,997,915 .Rafton Apr. 16, 1935 2,014,834 Cofiey et a1. Sept. 17,1935 2,081,240 Knapp :et :al. c May 25, 1937 2,158,169 Wright May'16, 1939 2,329,333 .Garter Sept..14, 1943 2,412,400 Hock i .Dec. 10, ,1946 

